Mount Dragon

Guy Carson is a brilliant scientist at GeneDyne, one of the world's foremost biochemical companies. When he is transferred to Mount Dragon, GeneDyne's high-security genetic engineering lab, his good fortune seems too good to be true.

Carson soon finds that it is. He learns that GeneDyne geneticists are tinkering with a common virus with an eye on the enormous profit to be had from a cure for the flu. Their cure involves permanently altering DNA in humans. What's more, Mount Dragon harbors another secret that puts the world at horrifying risk.

Out in the desert sits Mount Dragon, a very secretive experimental research complex, owned by the ecentric genius Brent Scopes. Guy Carson and Susana Cabeza de Vaca, are the new scientists that have come to the center to do work on finding a cure for the flu, at least that's what they believe. Then Guy is secretly approached by his past professor, Dr. Levine, a one time good friend of Scopes, now on a crusade to put an end to Scopes' research, fearing he will change the human race as we know it. That's the start of this page turning mystery/thriller that keeps the earbuds in, for a bittersweet end. Throughout the book though, are a few chuckles with tantilizing tidbits on survival in the desert, genetic research, and some horsesence (you'll get the meaning of that statement, when you read the book) I felt for these characters and the things that happened to them, as they were very well protrayed by the narrator. It's just a very interesting book, that I have no trouble recommending.

Seven Years: Seven, Book 1

It's been seven years since Lexi Knight lost her brother in a tragic accident. On the anniversary of his death, her brother's best friend shows up unexpectedly - a man she hasn't seen since the funeral. He is no longer the boy Lexi once knew, but a dangerous-looking man with tattoos and dark secrets. He broke her trust and abandoned her family, yet what he reveals makes it impossible to stay angry. Lexi has been secretly infatuated with Austin since childhood, so finding out he's a Shifter just makes him sexier.

This to me was just an OK paranormal love story, but did have the typical annoying heroine. I get real frustrated with main characters that can't read between the lines and figure out what trouble they are in. For instance, when she had beings stalking her wanting to do who knows what, and she's going to go in to heet at any time, but doesn't seem to care to find out anything at all about what will happen during that period of time, she only insisted on going back to her apartment, instead of staying where she can be protected. Then, it seems every man she has ever dated (or known) is out to rape or kill her all of a sudden (What's up with that?).If you like the formula love stories where the heroine can't get it together til the end, and the two main characters are in love, but mutually think the other one doesn't love them back, then this one's for you.

Sterling: Mageri, Book 1

Zoë Merrick lived an ordinary life until late one night, she was brutally attacked and left for dead. She survived, saved by a stranger who witnessed her undergo a physical transformation. That's not the only thing that's different. Zoë is unable to control an unexplainable energy coursing through her body. Justus De Gradi is a man who can teach her that control. He's handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human. He reveals that she is a Mage - an immortal made of light, not magic. She must now make a choice: Rebuild her life in the human world with the man who saved her, or live with Justus and learn how to use her extraordinary gifts. Justus has sworn an oath to protect her life, but can he guard her from the one man who has a right to claim it?

She's attacked, saved by one stranger, then saved by another stranger, and still another stranger runs to her rescue. I don't know what's so special about this girl, but the men seem to know, as everyone wants to protect and maybe love her. She's not without her enemies though, that want her for hidden reasons. That's where the story becomes interesting, the mysterious part of it and hopefully we will learn more about Zoe's special gifts in future installments. As for this one, it's a nice beginning that introduces us to the mage world, that she's been thrown in to.

How to Run with a Naked Werewolf

Anna Moder has just witnessed a shooting, seen her car pulverized, and rescued a wounded stranger - only to discover he's really a werewolf. And by her recent standards, things are actually looking up. Lycanthropes don't faze Anna. Doctoring a wolf pack outside Grundy, Alaska, is the closest thing to home life she's known in years. But hitching a ride to Anchorage with long-absent pack member Caleb Graham - that's a risk. Part of her itches to whack his nose with a newspaper. The rest is trying unsuccessfully to keep her own paws off every delicious inch of him.

Always my favorites, the Werewolves and Vampires. I don't think I would ever want to read any of these books, when Amanda Ronconi is narrating them. Her delivery adds so much to the story that undeniably it wouldn't be the same without her voice. This one has the usual predictability as most of the series does, but who cares when they are so enjoyable and always leaves you feeling good.

The Fourth Watcher: A Poke Rafferty Thriller

The author of the Looking for Trouble travel book series, Poke Rafferty is ready to settle down in Bangkok with his fiance, Rose, and his newly adopted daughter, Miaow. But trouble isn't ready to let him go; it's back in Poke's life with a vengeance, in the guise of his long-estranged father, Frank, the last person he ever wanted to see again. And Frank hasn't come empty-handed, arriving with a box of rubies, a wad of fraudulent identity papers, and one of the most dangerous gangsters in China in hot pursuit.

The publisher's summary says it all, as to the basic plot of the story. Everything is going right for Poke, but that is seemingly coming to an end, when Rose is caught up in a counterfeiting scheme, and his long lost Father shows up bringing more danger to Poke's family. What the summary does leave out is the wonderful character development and how you truly feel you know these people along with their struggles. It's an engrossing story that doesn't let you down.

Along Came a Spider

Along Came a Spider first introduced Alex Cross, the brilliant homicide detective. When the daughter of a Hollywood actress and the son of the Secretary of the Treasury are kidnapped, Cross and the Secret Service are pitted against Gary Soneji, a murderous serial kidnapper who wants to commit the crime of the century.

Enjoyed the book, but will probably read the rest. The narration tended to take away from the excellent story. My first introduction to the Alex Cross character sparked my interest in hearing more from him and his peers.

Cold Days: The Dresden Files, Book 14

After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad - because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard. He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long.

Harry wakes up from death and now it's time to be the Winter Knight. Maab prepares him as only Maab would do, 72 days of fighting for his life. This does get him ready for his real quest where he is enlightened by the Summer Mother, of the real fight humanity faces daily. Harry and company are together again, in their battle against evil as only the combination of Jim Butcher's imagination and James Marster's magic delivery can do it.

Storm Force

When a bomb explodes inside a Houston high-rise and the governor of Texas goes missing in the ensuing melee, former army ranger Jack "Kell" Kellison and the Omega Force counterterrorism team are called into action. Their mission: infiltrate the activist group suspected of masterminding the bombing, neutralize the threat, and recover the hostage. Yet within moments of meeting his prime suspect, beautiful environmentalist Mori Chastaine, Kell knows she's innocent of the bombing - but definitely guilty of something.

Listened to this story after hearing "Allegiance", where Robin and Nick were dominant characters. Robin is a fun gal with all kinds of surprises, but she is not the main character of this story. Kel and Moory are the focus here, and the story was interesting although it did drag at times with too much detail. The narration could have been better.

Allegiance: The Penton Legacy, Book 4

British vampire psychiatrist and former mercenary Cage Reynolds returns to Penton, Alabama, looking for a permanent home. The town has been ravaged by the ongoing vampire war and the shortage of untainted human blood, and now the vampires and humans that make up the Omega Force are trying to rebuild. Cage hopes to help the cause, put down roots in Penton, and resolve his relationship with Melissa Calvert. The last thing he expects is to find himself drawn to Robin Ashton, a trash-talking eagle shape-shifter and new Omega recruit.

Didn't know if I was going to like this installment when I started listening, but didn't take long to hold my interest. I think much of that was due to the new characters of Robin and Nick, especially that 'Little Bird", as she really made the story perk up, by adding a good bit of humor. Had to go listen to Storm Front though, when I finished this book, because she was introduced in it. The narrator of this story did a much better job with Robin and Nick's voices(really didn't care for the Storm Front narration)This installment opens up some new doors for the Penton Legacy and is a quick listen, but beware it only partially ends.

Blood Infernal: The Order of the Sanguines Series

As an escalating scourge of grisly murders sweeps the globe, archaeologist Erin Granger must decipher the truth behind an immortal prophecy foretold in the Blood Gospel, a tome written by Christ and lost for centuries: The shackles of Lucifer have been loosened, and his Chalice remains lost. It will take the light of all three to forge the Chalice anew and banish him again to his eternal darkness.

I've heard this is the last of the series, with the three completing their quest, but I could see more quests in the future with the small opening at the story's end. Not that I would mind. The story wraps up nicely, but does have it's losses leaving me a bit sad. Thoroughly enjoyed the series, although the narrator was rather slow in reading an extra long book, making it drag somewhat.

Desert Heat

A cop lies dying beneath the blistering Arizona sun - a local lawman who may well have become the next sheriff of Cochise County. The police brass claim that Andy Brady was dirty, and that his shooting was a suicide attempt. Joanna Brady, his devoted wife and mother of their nine-year-old daughter, knows a cover-up when she hears one...and murder when she sees it.

Tried out a new author (for me anyway) from a friend's recommendation. Really enjoyed listening to this book, in fact it took all day Sunday, but I finished it. It is the first of the Joanna Brady series, which starts with a death and a big mystery. Joanna's life is turned upside down on her 10th anniversary, and soon she's led to believe that her husband might have been hiding secrets from her. She won't give up til all her questions are answered though, even as her own life is put in danger. I have to say that I couldn't figure out all the bad guys, which made me want to jump to the end, to satisfy my curiosity. I didn't give in, but kept listening.

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